T4R Bottoms Out Over Mexican Speed Bumps!

[CarreraGuy]

We just bought a '04 T4R Unlimited V8 with around 69,000 miles on it from the second owner. Overall, the truck seems to be in good shape.

However, when I go over a speed bump at more than 2 MPH, the front suspension bottoms out pretty hard. We live in Mexico, so have a lot of nasty speed bumps.

The vehicle has KYB Excel-G shocks at all four corners. The shocks are probaby three years old, given the ownership history. None are leaking. The springs looks OK, too.

Yet when I bounce the front end up and down hard, the shocks do not stop the bouncing quickly, as they should. The back end is much tighter. In fact, it is difficult to get it to bounce at all. The truck does not seem to sag in front, either.

It drives well on the highway, corners nicely, and does not seem to take a nose-dive when I get into the ABS.

Intended use? I will drive the truck on gravel roads some but intend no off-road excursions or rock climbing, (I am too old), and I may tow a 18' car trailer with my '63 Chevy Nova race car on occasion.

We have no Toyota dealer in town, so I willl have to take it elsewhere for service and then wait for parts. I hate to pay to have shocks and springs removed and tested....especially when there are no decent parts stores around. We live 540 miles from Texas, so may wait until I can get it to a dealer up there.

I am assuming that I should replace the front springs and maybe the shocks. I read on the forum that FJ springs and Bilstein 5100 shocks are good replacements.

Any other suggestions?

GBB

 

[Eastcoastrunner]

i wonder if it had xreas, then had them swapped out for the kybs?

 

[teampwr2]

Real Simple your Shocks are worn out ...A Shocks Life depending on use is good for around 40,000 miles ..The oil gets spent and they lose some of the gas charge / they dont need to visibly leak to be worn out .
Get some new ones ..Its really that simple .

 

[Ducman]

Kybs are junk and wear out fast. Get the billies.

 

[ClockWork]

Real Simple your Shocks are worn out ...A Shocks Life depending on use is good for around 40,000 miles ..The oil gets spent and they lose some of the gas charge / they dont need to visibly leak to be worn out .
Get some new ones ..Its really that simple .

I feel that's a gross assumption that shocks are toast at the 40k mark. My cruiser as 130k and is on the original shocks, and torsion bars. Granted all suspension components and bushings are getting replaced at 150k but it still rides very well.

The 4R suspension is far to soft to begin with IMO and up-travel on the front end is non-existent. Putting 2 adults + junk in the trunk makes the rear end sag on the 4R.

 

[captchad]

I have the same problem witth my 05 4runner. I changed all four shocksto tthe kybs, and changed the front springs with oem toyota springs. Its a little better, but still dissapointed. Should have bought the Bilstien shocks.

 

[ninefinger]

Well I'm gonna say the front shocks are toast based on the description of bouncing the front and it doesn't stop right away.

You don't need springs though - just the shocks (aka dampers) and probably just on the front. Shocks can and do wear out fast- especially if run into speed bumps at speed or run on rough roads. Some are even crappy out of the box (ask me how I know...) - The KYBs your refering to seem to be a cheap OEM alternative and don't seem to get much love when doing a google search.

Get a good set on there that are recommended by some people here and you'll be happy (ie Bilsteins)

 

[RamThis]

I would agree with the fact you probably just need some new shocks up front.

My 06 has almost 70K on it with the factory Tokico's and still rides beautifully, and we have a few really big speed bumps around our neighborhood and it never bottoms out.

 

[DC runner]

When I was in Grad School in San Antonio, I dated a girl who had family in Mexico. We would drive down to visit them..

The roads.. a nightmare. I know what you mean when you say "Mexican Speedbumps".. in that kind of a situation, I would suggest new shocks every year.